Flyers dominate this NHL stat; waffles heaved at Leafs

Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer

BOSTON _ As a byproduct of being the NHL's highest-scoring team _ and having the league's best goal differential, at plus-28 _ the Flyers are dominating the plus-minus stats.

For the first time this season, five Flyers are in the league's top 10 in that category.

Andrej Meszaros and Sean O'Donnell, who compose the team's third defensive pairing, share the NHL lead at plus-18 each. Danny Briere (plus-16) has moved into a tie for fourth, and Ville Leino and Scott Hartnell are tied for ninth with plus-14 ratings.

The line of Briere, Leino and Hartnell was a combined plus-8 in Thursday's 4-1 win in Toronto.

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Michael Leighton made 29 saves in the Phantoms' 5-2 win over Syracuse Friday, snapping the team's 10-game losing streak. Leighton, on a rehab assignment, is also expected to start Saturday.

Flyers defenseman Matt Walker began a conditioning stint with the Phantoms Friday and was minus-1.

When Leighton returns to the Flyers, the team may try to push Walker through waivers and send him to the Phantoms. The Flyers now have 23 players on their roster _ the maximum allowed _ and will need to make room for Leighton.

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After his team lost Thursday, a disgruntled Toronto fan threw waffles onto the ice, with some hitting the stick of Leafs defenseman Francois Beauchemin. “The way we’re playing, it’s frustrating for everybody,” Beauchemin told the Toronto Sun.

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So who should be the Flyers' starting goalie Saturday night in Boston?

On one hand, Sergei Bobrovsky is rested and is among the league leaders in several categories.

On the other hand, Brian Boucher was outstanding in Thursday's victory in Toronto.